Double-sash catch



March 4, 1924.

T. E. WALKER DOUBLE sAsH CATCH Filed Aug. 17. v1925 2 Sheets-Sheetl 1 mi f March 4', 1924.`

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T. E. WALKER DOUBLE SASH CATCH Filed Aug. 17 1923 @WSE Patented Mar. 4, 1924.

UNITED STATES rAIsNI, orties..

THOMAS E. WALKER, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AssIGNoa To CRI-T'IALL CASEMEN'I` WINDOW Co., or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN. A

DOUBLE-SASH CATCH.

Application led -August 17, 1923. Serial No. 657,838.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. WALKER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented cer` tain new and useful Improvements in Double-Sash Catches, of which the 'following is a speciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In the use of windows having swingable sashes that may be swung outwardly and adjusted for Ventilating and cleaning purposes, I nd that the lower sash is often closed without the upper sash being closed and this is not desirable when both sashes are to be closed to exclude the'elements and avoid any danger of drafts, fire and eXterior forces beyond the control of the watchman of a building equipped with such windows. Plenty of ottice buildings, public institutions and dwellings are equipped with suoli windows, one type being that wherein the meeting rail of the lower sash secures the meeting rail of the upper sash in a closed and locked position. lIn order to conveniently interlock such meeting ,rails it was necessary to provide means for swinging the upper sash into alinement with the lower sash, but I have found that even with such means the lower sash is often closed and the upper sash neglected. On account of the height of the upper sash it will appear to a sash operator as though manually closed, when as a matter of fact itis not closed, therefore should a fire occur in proximity to the open upper sash there is danger of the fire entering the openvwindow frame.

My invention aims to provide an attachment for a window of the above type which will prevent the lower sash from being swung to a full closed position until lthe upper sash is properly closed, said deviceA being in the form of a tell-tale barrier positioned in a path of both sashes when open and adapted to be actuated by the upper sash, in advance of the lower sash, so that it will be moved out of the way of the latter.

My invention further aims to provide a window frame attachment which may be advantageously used in connection with that type of window construction in my Patent No. 1,428,068 granted Sept. 5, 1922, wherein the window frame and sashes are of metal vents said Vsash from being closed, unless the upper sash has been swung into a closed position, either manually or independently of the lower sash or automatically by virtue of the cam members.

With this outline of the purpose of my invention, reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein` Figure l is afront elevationof a portion of a window frame provided with a device in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is arvertical sectional view of theV same showing the device about vto vbe actuposition." The lower sash ishingedly ated orrretracted by the upperv sash so as to provide clearance Jfor'` the lower sash;V

Fig. 3 is a similar per sash open and the .device serving as a barrier or stop to -prevent immediate closing of the lower` sas and Fig. 4 is a similar view lshowing both sashes in a closed position with the device retracted. Y For the purpose ofV illustrating my invention, I have deemed it only necessary to show a portion or one side of a window frame l having a channel or guideway`2 and slidable in the channel or guideway 2 is one of the end shoes 3` of a transverse member 4 to which is hingedly connected the .meeting rail- 5 of a lower sash 6 adapted to be swung outwardly from the window frame.

In the window frame, Yabove the lower sash 6, is an upper sash 7 also adapted to be swung out of the window frame, said upper sash having a meetingrail 8 adapted to cooperate with the meeting railr of the lower view showing4 the up- On the shoe 3 of the transverse member 4 is a cam or inclined way 13 adapted to impinge against the inner flange or leg 9 of the upper sash 8, as shown in Fig. 2, and cause the meeting rail 8 of the upper sash to be swung into the frame when the cam 13 is raised in the Jframe by closing the lower sash 6. The cam 13 is only brought into action for the purpose intended when the inner flange or leg 9 of the meeting rail 8 is in the path of an upward movement of said cam, and heretofore, there have been times when tle lower sash 6 is closed with the upper sash open, for instance in the position shown in Fig. 3.

To preventthe lower sash 6 from being accidentally closed, without the upper sash7 being closed, I mount a tell-tale device on thel frame 1, said device comprising a bearing plate 14 secured to the frame 1 by screws 15. Intermediate the ends of the bearing plate 14 is a set of apertured lugs 16 and at i the upper end of said bearing plate is a spring housing or cup 17. Pivotally mounted between the apertured lugs 16 by a screw 18 or other pivotal means is an arm 19 which has its upper end provided with a spring housing or cup 2O adapted to enter the housing or cup 17. In said housings or cups 1s a coiled expansion spring 21 holding the lower end of the arm 19 normally in proximity to the frame 1, but permitting of said arm being retracted. On the lower end ol the arm 19 is a side extension providing a beveled barrier or stop 22 which extends into the frame 1 in the path of the meeting rails 5 and 8 of the sashes 6 and 7 respectively. The lower end of the arm 19 is also provided with an apertured ear 23 to which a chain or flexible member 24 may be connected for manually retracting the barrier 22. The opposite end of the chain or flexible member 24 may be connected to the meeting rail 8 of the upper sash 7 to Yl'acilitate closing said sash or said chain may be connected to a sash lock or any other device about the window frame.

As shown in Fig. 3 the normal position of the barrier 22 prevents closing the lower sash 6 because the inner flange or leg 1Q of the meeting rail 5 impinges against the barrier and prevents the lower sash from being swung into the frame until the barrier is retracted. It therefore serves to indicate that the upper sash 7 has not been closed and assuming the sashes are in the positions shown in Fig. 3, it is necessary to lower the transverse member 4, by swinging ther lower sash outwardly, in order that the cam 13 will provide clearance for the inner short flange or leg 9 of the meeting rail 8. Assuming that the transverse member 4 has been lowered and the upper sash 7 swung inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2, then upward movement of the cam 13,

1 ,Lisa/14e caused by closing the lower sash 6, causes the cam to impinge against the ange or leg 9 of the meeting rail 8 and shift the meeting rail into the frame 1 in alinement with the lower sash 6. The inward movement ot the meeting rail 8 causes said meeting rail to impinge against the barrier 22 and push said barrier to a retracted position so that the inner long flange or leg 12 of the meeting rail 5 may engage the beveled edge of the barrier E22 and further push it to a retracted position; far enough to provide clearance for the leg or flange of the meeting rail 5 as the. lower sash 6 is closed. rlhe barrier 22 may therefore be automatically moved out of the road, but it is obvious that the chain or flexible member 24 will permit of the barrier being manually moved, which may be necessary when it is desired to close the lower sash 6 and yet leave the upper sash open for Ventilating purposes.

When it comes to closing the upper sash 7 so that said sash will be locked in a closed position by the lower sash it is practically impossible to do so unless the upper sash 7 is fully closed, when the meeting rail 5 oie the lower sash may interlock with the meeting rail of the upper sash and enclose the transverse member as shown in Fig. 4.

It is thought that the utility of my invention will be apparent without further description and while in the drawings there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my devi-ve, it is to be understood that the structural elements are susceptible to such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. ln a window frame, the combination of upper and lower sashes swingable relative to said frame and having sash meetingl rails adapted to interlock when the sashes are closed, and a barrier in the path of the meeting rail of the lower sash adapted te prevent complete closing of the lower sash until said barrier is shifted, said barrier being operatable by the upper sash being fully closed to push the barrier to a position to permit interlocking of the sash meeting rails.

2. In a window frame wherein upper and lower sashes are swingable relative to said frame and sash meeting rails are adapted to interlock when the sashes are closed, a catch in the path of the meeting rails of both sashes, said catch serving as a stop 'for the lower sash and adapted to be pushed by the. upper sash, the constructive arrangement of the catch and sash meeting rails being such that the upper sash must be fully closed before the lower sash can be fully closed without manually shifting said catch independent of the lower sash.

3. A window construction as called for in claim 2, wherein the catch is yieldably supported at a side of said window frame.

lll)

4. A window construction as called for in claim 3, wherein the catch has a pivotally supported middle portionwith one end spring pressed and the opposite end adapted to be pushed to an inoperativef position.

5. In a window frame, a slidable transverse member, an upper sash supported in said frame and swingable relative to said slidable transverse member, a lower sash carried by said transverse member and swingable relative thereto, both of said sashes being swingable into said frame for closing purposes, and a catch normally in the path of the lower sash when open and adapted to be moved by the upper sash as it is closed to a position to permit of the lower sash being fully closed.

6. In a window frame wherein are upper and lower sashes having interlocking meeting rails, a barrier normally in position to prevent such interlocking until the meeting rail of the upper sash is in place, and means engaging said barrier to maintain it in place for engagement by the upper sash, said means being yieldable to permit said barrier to assume a position where it may be engaged and pushed aside by the lower sash.

7. In a window frame having upper and lower sashes, a barrier which prevents closing of the lower sash, said barrier being positioned to be moved out of the way of the lower sash by the upper sash when being fully closed. Y

V8. A window construction as called for in claim 7, and means actuated by the lower sash adapted to move the upper sash and cause said upper sash to move said barrier.

9. In a window frame, the combination of a movable lower sash adapted to have its upper edge move up and down in the window frame, cam members movable up and downwith said lower sash, an upper sash supported in said window frame and adapted to have its lower edge swung in an arc by said cam members, and means to prevent eXtreme upward movement of said cam members until the lower edge of said upper sash is in position to be actuated by said cam members.

l0. In a window, wherein upper and lower sashes are disconnected and independently tiltable and the lower sash holds the upper sash closed when said sashes are in alinement, the combination of a member adapted to support the lower sash, and

means to prevent such sash alinement until the upper sash is iirst such alinement.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS E. WALKER.

placed in position for Witnesses KARL II. BUTLER, G. E. MCGRANN. 

